Mailbox



1944- I H .1.v A. WESTERFIELD I 2,356,020

MAIL BOX File'd Aug. 26. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor mes/wrfivaszyw gJ. A. WESTERFIELD 2,356,020

MAIL BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26. 1942 1 I m/entor(famesfllerillasiefikld M Mmmgs Aug. 15, 1944.

Filed Aug. 26, 1942 J. A. WESTERFIELD MAIL BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 InventorPatented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE James AlbertWesterfield, Beaver Dam, Ky.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ,new and useful improvements in mail boxesespecially adapted for rural use.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mail boxhaving a signal flag for indicating that mail has been deposited in thebox by the mailman.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a mail depositedindication flag adapted to be automatically operated by the usual mailbox closure.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to the reader of the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the mail box showing thelarge flag in position indicating that the box is empty.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the box.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view takensubstantially on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view takensubstantially on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure1.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the ratchet arm.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially online 8-8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts,it can be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to the box proper whichcomprises a hood-like shell 6 provided with a back end wall I andpreferably a wooden bottom 8 having a sheet metal covering {1. NumeralIll denotes a flanged closure for the front end of the shell 6 and thisis swingably connected at its lower portion to the bottom 8, as at H. Asuitable handle I2 is provided for the closure l and the closure In isheld in place by an elongated spring member l3 at the top of the box.This spring member 13 has one end riveted as at M to the top of theshell 6 while its free end isin a position to tensionally engage theflange of the closure ill, in a manner shown in Figure l. A pin extendsdownwardly through an arm !6 which supports a small signal flag I! andalso downwardly through an opening in the spring l3 and an opening inthe top of the shell 6, the

lower end of this pin I5 has a nut and washer I9 and between this andthe inner side of the shell 6 is a compression spring 20. Thistensioning assembly serves to hold the spring arm l3 snugly against theclosure It! in the manner shown in Figure 1, and also hold the flag ITin any position desired by its arm IS. The fiag ll serves to indicate tothe mail delivery man the fact that the box holder has mail to be sent.

The flag I1 is preferably of a color distinctive from the color of asecond and larger flag 2|, which is preferably in the form of anelongated plate having its upper edge portion reinforced by being bentupon itself as at 22. The intermediate portion of the flag 2| has avertical row of horizontal slits defining straps which can be forcedlaterally to the end that the upper end of a rod 23 can be woventherethrough and to the end that friction alone will be sufiicient tohold the flag 2| rigidly on the rod 23, or, if desired, spot welding maybe resorted to.

A substantially U-shaped bracket 2-- is secured to the lower portion ofone side of the shell 6 with its leg portion disposed horizontally. Theupper leg portion of the bracket 24, which is denoted by referencecharacter a, has its free end portion disposed backwardly and upwardlyto define a pair of lugs b, b, adapted to have rest thereon the crotchetportions of a toothed hollow collar 25.

A crown type ratchet wheel 26 is splined on the lower portion of the rod23 and normally rests upon the lower leg portion 0 of the bracket 24. Itwill here be seen that a cotter key or the like 21, at the lower end ofthe rod 23, permits rising of the rod above the lower leg portion 0.

Numeral 2B denotes a ratchet arm twisted at its forward end portion andsecured to the closure ID by a pin 29, which pin is preferably welded tothe front side of the closure l6 The rear end of the arm 28 is formed toprovide an elongated guide leg 36 and a downwardly disposed ratchetwheel engageable tooth 3|. The leg 30 is of sufficient length so that italways rides the top of the crown type ratchet wheel 26 in a manner soas to permit the tooth 3| to engage the shoulders of the ratchet wheel25.

It can now be seen that in the event the box holder has a parcel orother mail matter to give to the postman, he simply turns the small flagI! to align with the longitudinal disposition of the box.

When the postman arrives, he will find the flag 2| in the position shownin Figure 1. He opens the closure l0 and inserts the mail and in doingso the arm 28 moves forwardly, the tooth 3| engaging one of theshoulders of the ratchet wheel 26 and rotating the rod 23 ninetydegrees, thus setting the flag 2| at right angles to the disposition ofthe box 5 so that it can be clearly visible from the box holders house.This saves many trips to an empty mail box.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and.scope of the, invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

Signalling apparatus of the class described for use on a mail box havinga swingable closure,

said apparatus comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted on said boxand having a pair of upper and lower horizontal arms, a post rotatablymounted in said arms and vertically slidable therein, a flag fast onsaid post for rotation into different positions by rotation of saidpost, a pawl and ratchet drive for rotating said post comprising aratchet wheel on the post intermediate said arms, and a pawl arm adaptedto be pivoted to said closure for operation thereby to operate saidwheel, and devices on said post and the upper arm, respectively,co-acting under vertical sliding movement and rotation of the post toyieldingly detain the post in difierent angular positions.

JAMES ALBERT WESTERFIELD.

